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Janet Weiss
Quasi &
Sleater-Kinney drummer loves her Maple Craviotto Drum
Janet Weiss grew up in Hollywood, California listening to AM
radio and the classic rock heroes of her 2 big sisters. Her musical
abilities probably were passed down from her father, a harmonica player
from Chicago with great pitch. As a teenager, bands such as The Clash
and REM redefined her understanding of the world. Music increasingly
became the lens through which she saw everything.
Janet escaped Los Angeles at 17,
attending college at San Francisco University. She became very
interested in local bands like Donner Party, Camper Van Beethoven, Blue
Movie, The Catheads. She connected with their irreverent, DIY,
rebellious attitude, and the intimacy of the small clubs in which they
regularly played. At the ripe old age of 22, after one drum lesson on a
practice pad, Janet joined the sloppy rock trio The Furies. Without any
training, Janet learned the drums by watching drummers at a million
shows, and by studying John Bonham, Mick Avery, Mitch Mitchell, Topper
Headon, Melanie Clarin, Elvin Jones, and countless others.
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In 1989 she moved to Portland, Oregon where
she’s resided ever since. She’s played mostly in two bands for more than
a decade, Quasi and Sleater-Kinney. Each made 7 records, and toured the
world, allowing her to support herself with her music. Her drumming,
which became more outspoken and personal, was honed against the Indie
Rock backdrop of the 1990’s. Janet loves long tom fills, and a snare
drum with a giant crack. She first heard the Craviotto snare drum she
calls her “snare mate” while engineering a local band. They borrowed it
from a shop in town. She tracked it down and offered her first child for
it. But it’s lucky owner said it was only available on a borrow basis.
She played it, a refurbished Radio King, whenever she could, until she
found a maple Craviotto of her own. |
